Govt panel favours OBC quota for transgenders

With the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) recommending their inclusion in the central list of Other Backward Class, transgenders in India moved one step closer to getting reservations in jobs and educational institutions.

NCBC’s recommendation comes close on the heels of the recent Supreme Court judgement which directed the Centre and state governments to treat transgenders as socially and educationally backward classes.

“We unanimously passed a resolution to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court and decided to recommend to the Centre to include transgenders in the OBC list. Irrespective of their community background, all transgenders can avail benefits under the OBC list,” a NCBC official said.

A final decision on the inclusion of transgenders will have to be taken by the cabinet.

Though the actual number of transgenders in the country is not available, electoral roll date of the Election Commission of India states that a total number of 23,019 people have registered themselves under “others” category.

NCBC, functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, received a letter from the ministry seeking to look into the directions of the apex court. The Commission’s role comes into play since NCBC advice is necessary to include a community in the OBC list.

The SC on April 15 had held that the rights of transgenders, also known as Hijras, Eunuchs, Kothis, Aravanis, Jogappas, Shiv-Shakthis etc, have to be protected as they are citizens of the country and having all rights under the Constitution.